| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive industry |
| Genre | Trucks |
| Predecessor | Shipman, Bradt & Co. [2] |
| Incorporated | 1904 |
| Founders | Charles E. Bradt, Samuel E. Bradt, Madison D. Shipman |
| Defunct | c. 1970 |
The DeKalb Commercial Body Corporation, formerly known as the Sycamore Wagon Works, DeKalb Wagon Company, and DeKalb Commercial Body Company, [3] is a defunct manufacturer of wagons and vocational truck bodies.
The Sycamore Wagon Works was officially founded in 1904 [Note 1] in Sycamore, Illinois by brothers Charles and Samuel Bradt, and partner Madison D. Shipman (Who was Charles and Samuel's brother-in-law [1] ) in Sycamore, Illinois. [3] [4] The trio had previously been involved in a glove manufacturing business in Gloversville, New York. [1] Their first products included milk wagons, delivery wagons, and wagons designed specifically for the transport of pianos, [4] likely for the nearby Melville-Clark Piano Company factory. [5] [Note 2] The first manager of the company was a Mr. Will Smith, who had experience as the former manager for both the Kalamazoo Wagon Company [Note 3] and the Montgomery Ward buggy factory. [4] The company later began to produce the Sycamore One-Step Wagon, with a low floor for easy access. [3] In 1912, Sycamore Wagon Works moved to a former shoe factory in DeKalb and was renamed DeKalb Wagon Company. [6] They continued to produce wagons.
In 1913, the DeKalb Wagon Company purchased the Randolph Motor Car Company [3] from General Motors, who had owned it since 1908 [7] but had discontinued all Randolph models. In 1913, DeKalb officially announced that it would begin production of Randolph trucks, and later that year they were renamed to DeKalb. [1]
As the years progressed, DeKalb ceased to produce wagons or their own vehicles, instead building vocational bodies (i.e. fire trucks, cement mixers, milk trucks, etc.) onto existing truck chassis, especially Dodges. [8]
One of DeKalb Commercial Body Corporation's more famous models was the Lumberjack, a truck that was almost entirely a large, flat surface (broken only by a small, 1-person cab) designed for hauling lumber. Over the years, there were more modifications to the design, such as a larger version and a similar model designed for hauling metal. While DeKalb did not claim to be the only company making bodies in this style, they became very popular in the Midwest. [3]
Very little is known about the closing of the DeKalb Commercial Body Corporation. While the company's adress was listed in a 1969 city directory, the same address was listed as a vacant lot in 1971. [1] The company appears to have gone out of business sometime around then, although the reason is unknown. [3]